心理学是一门研究人类心理现象及其影响下的精神功能和行为活动的科学，兼具理论性和应用性。心理学研究涉及知觉、认知、情绪、思维、人格、行为习惯等多个领域，与日常生活中的家庭、教育、健康、社会发生关联。同时，心理学也尝试解释个体基本的行为与心理机能在社会行为和社会动力中的角色。
心理学研究方法论（research methodology in psychology）亦称“心理学方法学”。是心理学研究方法的理论和学说。分三个层次。层次是哲学方法论。其对象主要涉及心理的实质、心理与客观现实及人的实践活动的关系，以及心理活动的构成、表现方式和作用等根本问题，对心理学研究有极高的指导意义。
从方法论的角度探索心理学的边界是一个独特的研究方向。西方心理学的哲学方法论主要是实证主义、现象学、存在主义和诠释学等。以实证主义为基础的主要有内容心理学、构造主义、机能主义、行为主义、认知心理学等;以现象学为基础的主要有意动心理学、完形心理学、精神分析、人本主义心理学等;以存在主义为基础的主要有存在精神分析、存在主义心理学等;以诠释学为基础的主要有精神分析等。
Psychology is a science that studies human psychological phenomena and the mental function and behavior activities under their influence. It is both theoretical and applied. Psychological research involves perception, cognition, emotion, thinking, personality, behavioral habits and other fields, and is related to family, education, health and society in daily life. At the same time, psychology also tries to explain the role of individual basic behavior and psychological function in social behavior and social dynamics.
Research methodology in Psychology is also known as "psychological methodology". It is the theory and doctrine of psychological research methods. There are three levels. The highest level is philosophical methodology. Its object mainly involves the essence of psychology, the relationship between psychology and objective reality and people's practical activities, as well as the constitution, expression and function of psychological activities and other fundamental issues, has the highest guiding significance for psychological research.
It is a unique research direction to explore the boundary of psychology from the perspective of methodology.The philosophical methodology of Western psychology is mainly positivism, phenomenology, existentialism and hermeneutics. Based on positivism, there are content psychology, constructivism, functionalism, behaviorism, cognitive psychology and so on. Phenomenology-based psychology, gestalt psychology, psychoanalysis, humanistic psychology, etc. Existentialism is based on existential psychoanalysis, existential psychology and so on. The main ones based on hermeneutics are psychoanalysis and so on.